LIVE exports from the port of Ipswich have today been stopped after the recent discovery of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey.The controversial trade has been operating through the port since the beginning of the month due to the temporary closure of a berth at Dover.

LIVE exports from the port of Ipswich have today been stopped after the recent discovery of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey.

The controversial trade has been operating through the port since the beginning of the month due to the temporary closure of a berth at Dover.

But, following news of a foot and mouth outbreak in the Egham area of Surrey, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that all livestock movements in and from the UK, including Ipswich, are suspended until further notice.

Yvonne Burchall, from Kent Action Against Live Exports (KALE), said: “They restarted the exports too quickly and they didn't give it enough time to make sure the disease was completely eradicated.

“We want the exports to stop because people realise its unnecessary and cruel not because of foot-and-mouth.”

James Champness, from Associated British Ports, said the ban on live exports from Ipswich was unfortunate and said he could not say how long the ban would be imposed.

He said: “As we saw last month it was a few weeks and then it was deemed safe to export the animals again.

“It really depends on the situation in Surrey and whether they can confine it to the area or not, but we hope to get things up and running again fairly soon.”

The news comes as vets await results on tests for foot-and-mouth disease at another farm in Norfolk.

A temporary control zone was put around the premises in Norfolk yesterday afternoon after animals on the farm became ill and the test results are expected to be known later today.